Monday, February 03, 2003

Began the day with an hour of chess study - I'm using Jonathan Tisdall's book 'Improve your Chess.' today's game analysed the 'Stonewall Dutch' a defensive strategy for Black using pawns on c5 d6 e5 f6. Jonathan is the only chess author I've read who gives a clear simple explanation of the rather obscure terms used by the Chess fraternity. I'd encountered the 'Maroczy Bind' in other books where the authors assumed thr reader knew what was meant but in my case I hadn't a clue about what this was. Thanks to Jonathan I now know its a simple defence for White with pawns on c4 and d4. Chess is difficult enough without experts adding to one's confusion.

Being anxious about the impending war with Iraq ratcheting up oil prices I ordered some today - this delivery will cost me £30 more than the last one which was no surprise and prices will probably rise further. Hoping for some warm weather and that the war when it comes will be quick and decisive.

Being a painter and art lover I'm reading 'The Journal of Eugène Delacroix' and it was this that gave me the idea of starting a Blog. He met people like George Sand, Dumas, Balzac, Berlioz, Chopin as well as fellow artists. Yet much of the Journal is about more mundane matters, his worry about picking up an infection from using cabs to get to work, or his stomach. I guess I could go on about similar personal matters - but I won't.

About Me

M.Sc. (Math Ed), Open University (BA) , I learned to paint at Walsall and Stafford Schools of Art.
My current painterly interest is wildlife. I work from plein air drawings and my own photographs.
I try to give equal weight to the animal’s environment as well as it’s behaviour.
I studied for three years at the Walsall and Stafford Schools of Art at a time when art students spent at least two days and one evening in the life class.
The rigorous discipline of close observation and drawing developed in the life class was one of the benefits which has lasted.
My creative output mirrors the things I care about, draws on my experiences, and generally tries to interpret what the eye likes.
For me art also embraces a tradition of sound craftsmanship–I'm driven by a desire to make well crafted artefacts that will give lasting pleasure.
I later took an interest in mathematics and was awarded a Masters Degree by Loughborough University